A Supreme Court bench on Monday told the Centre and the Delhi Police that preventing crimes against women in Delhi-NCR must take priority over merely acting after offences are committed.
The court's message
Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran were hearing the court's suo motu case on recent rape incidents in Delhi-NCR. The bench said the authorities needed to work together to make the region safe for women at all hours.
"We have to work together. We must ensure that every woman in Delhi-NCR should feel safe even at 11 pm whether travelling on the roads or the metro," the bench said, adding that the police must create fear in the minds of offenders and anti-social elements.
Concrete directions
Justice Pardiwala warned that with the Durga Puja and Diwali holidays approaching, miscreants would "be on a high," and directed the authorities to take specific steps: CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points of parks, a round-the-clock monitoring cell, and immediate action on suspicious activity.
The court also sought a comprehensive status report from the authorities on safety arrangements in public places — including parks, roads, public transport, markets and educational institutions — and fixed the next hearing for November 16.
Background
The court had taken suo motu cognisance on September 28 of reported incidents including the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old at Aastha Kunj Park, the alleged gang-rape and murder of a teenage girl in Swaroop Nagar, and the alleged sexual assault of a minor inside a moving sleeper bus that travelled 47 km from Greater Noida to Delhi without being intercepted. The cases remain under investigation, and the incidents are reported as alleged.
Sources:
ETV Bharat — Supreme Court tells police to create fear in minds of goons committing crimes against women
Deccan Herald — Supreme Court tells police to create fear in the minds of goons while hearing rape cases
The court's message
Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran were hearing the court's suo motu case on recent rape incidents in Delhi-NCR. The bench said the authorities needed to work together to make the region safe for women at all hours.
"We have to work together. We must ensure that every woman in Delhi-NCR should feel safe even at 11 pm whether travelling on the roads or the metro," the bench said, adding that the police must create fear in the minds of offenders and anti-social elements.
Concrete directions
Justice Pardiwala warned that with the Durga Puja and Diwali holidays approaching, miscreants would "be on a high," and directed the authorities to take specific steps: CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points of parks, a round-the-clock monitoring cell, and immediate action on suspicious activity.
The court also sought a comprehensive status report from the authorities on safety arrangements in public places — including parks, roads, public transport, markets and educational institutions — and fixed the next hearing for November 16.
Background
The court had taken suo motu cognisance on September 28 of reported incidents including the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old at Aastha Kunj Park, the alleged gang-rape and murder of a teenage girl in Swaroop Nagar, and the alleged sexual assault of a minor inside a moving sleeper bus that travelled 47 km from Greater Noida to Delhi without being intercepted. The cases remain under investigation, and the incidents are reported as alleged.
Sources:
ETV Bharat — Supreme Court tells police to create fear in minds of goons committing crimes against women
Deccan Herald — Supreme Court tells police to create fear in the minds of goons while hearing rape cases
